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Meet The Elite: Sixteen Time Ironman Triathlon World Championship Finishers

In terms of finishes at the Hawaii Ironman, Frank Ferren, Missy LeStrange and Dick Nordquest are in extremely rarified air, each with 16 under their waistband.

"The challenge. Plain and simple". That is what Frank Ferren of Kailua-Kona says compelled him to do his first Ironman. So, in 1981, he embarked on an Iron-journey that is 22 years and counting.

Facing the reality of getting a real job, Missy Le Strange applied to participate in her first Ironman in 1983. Her thought was that a career would never allow her the time to train, so she figured it was now or never.

Dick Nordquest very boldly states that he was fat and wanted to get into shape!

What do these three athletes have in common? Each one has successfully completed the World Championships 16 times. So, take some time out of your busy day to get to know these amazing human beings.

Frank A. Ferren, M.D. – Age 64, Kailua-Kona, HI

Ironmanlive: What is your most cherished Ironman memory?

Frank Ferren: That would have to be 1990. I was at mile 10 in the marathon and my socks were all wet. I decided to take them off and I threw them into a trash can. A few days later when I was making rounds at the hospital, a nurse that had been working at that aid station gave them back to me. She had retrieved them from the trash and laundered them!

Ironmanlive: Have you finished every Ironman Hawaii that you have entered?

Frank Ferren: No. In 1999 I dropped out at the 24-mile point on the run. A physician friend of mine who was volunteering rode out on a scooter at about 11:30 pm and told me I was not going to make the cut-off, so I decided to call it a day.

Ironmanlive: Everyone seems to have their own "triathlon’s most embarrassing moment". Please share yours with us.

Frank Ferren: That would have to be 1999 again.

Ironmanlive: 1999 seems to have been a tough year.

Frank Ferren: I am not really sure what happened. I know that it was later in the evening and I thought I was doing pretty well. When I came to the aide station, a volunteer asked me if I was okay. I said yes, but when I started to run again, I realized that I was dizzy and my stomach was upset. Two of the volunteers ran with me for about three miles, and that is when my friend came to give me the news that I was not on target to make the midnight cut-off.

When I got back to the pier, I was already feeling better. Looking back, I realized that I should have kept going. It was a big lesson that helped me in the 2000 race when I did not make the deadline.

Ironmanlive: Have you done your last Ironman race?

Frank Ferren: I don’t think so. For now, my lifestyle does not permit me to adequately train for Ironman. If that changes, I will be back at the start line. Until then, I will continue to volunteer.

Ironmanlive: What is your most cherished Ironman moment?

Frank Ferren: I think that would have been when I was volunteering last year. An athlete about my age from Germany was about to throw in the towel. We talked for a bit, and he was just about to get in the medical van when this beautiful woman about his age came up on us. She kept telling him not to stop, that she would run with him. It was not until she promised to "flash" him that he jumped out of the van and was on his way. That was the last I saw of him!

Ironmanlive: What words of wisdom would you have for a group of first timers?

Frank Ferren: Break the race into segments. Maybe after the swim and bike, you are not sure you can run 26 miles, but you do know you can run one mile 26 times!

Michelle "Missy" Le Strange, Age 50, Visalia, California

Ironmanlive: Do you train to compete in these events, or do you enter these events to gain the motivation to train?

Missy Le Strange: Training is my lifestyle. Racing is how I gauge myself with the clock in spite of my age and what is currently happening in my life. I motivate myself to do my best under any circumstance.

Ironmanlive: Thinking back to1983, what did that Ironman race symbolize for you?

Missy Le Strange: To me, that first Ironman symbolized the culmination of my college and "Davis" experience. I had put myself through undergraduate and graduate school, I had become an adult swimmer and athlete, I had volunteered and organized community events, and now the career phase of my life was ahead of me.

Ironmanlive: How do the events differ from year to year?

Missy Le Strange: WTC has always succeeded in making the World Championships a quality event for the athlete, their family and support, the volunteers and the sponsors, while bringing good will to the people of Kona and the island of Hawaii. I like that Ironman has grown in size and prestige and yet maintains a familiarity and coziness. Each year the Ironman is special to me because it is my annual vacation to an island of beautiful beaches and scenery with people I like to share stories and good times. It just so happens that there is this race I gotta’ do while I am there.

Ironmanlive: You have an amazing record in Hawaii. That must motivate you to keep coming back.

Missy Le Strange: For me it is not about the 12 first-place finishes or the fact that I hold the course record in the 40-44 age group. I race because it is my lifestyle and most of all it is fun.

Ironmanlive: Do you have a goal to complete a certain number of races at Hawaii?

Missy Le Strange: Sure I do. I will race until it is not fun anymore. If that is 20 great. If that is 25, even better. Most important thing for more is that I continue to enjoy the process. When I am not, that will be my last race and I guess that would be my goal number.

Ironmanlive: Have you made a lot of friends through Ironman?

Missy Le Strange: GOBS! I feel like I am one of the luckiest age group athletes to race Hawaii each year. There are so many people that I have come to know over the years of participation that I see everywhere I go in Kona, and on race day I have crowds of people cheering for me!

Richard "Dick" Nordquest, Age 55, Santa Fe, California

Ironmanlive: Have you finished every Ironman that you have entered?

Dick Nordquest: I have done 42 Ironman, approximately 120 other triathlons, 15 200 mile bike rides and 50 marathons since 1985 and have never had a DNF. I have had three bad bike accidents and 103 degree fever in New Zealand, but always finished.

Ironmanlive: Do you ever think about not finishing?

Dick Nordquest: No. I figure once I start not finishing, it would be easier the second time not to finish. Some guys quit if they are having a bad day. To me, that is just not racing.

Ironmanlive: What does your average training week look like?

Dick Nordquest: I average about 100 or so miles on the bike, 30 miles of running and very little swimming. Many times, my swim workouts consist of being tethered in my hot tub and swimming in place. Believe it or not, my swim partners are my two dogs, Clementine and Winston.

I do 3-4 Ironman races each year, plus 10 other races. That way I don’t have to work out that much. My wife of 35 years limits the amount I work out. Besides, I strongly believe that it is impossible to train excessively and have a normal life for very long.

Ironmanlive: Have you done your last Ironman event?

Dick Nordquest: NO! I plan on doing at least 20 more as long as I am having fun.

Ironmanlive: So you have a goal of finishing at least 36 races in Hawaii?

Dick Nordquest: Well, that would sure be nice. I am not sure if my wife Holly would be too happy about that prospect! But like I said before, as long as my life is balanced, I want to keep racing.

Ironmanlive: Okay, so be honest. Was being too fat the only reason you decided to do Ironman?

Dick Nordquest: Well, seeing Julie Moss was a motivating factor as well, but I would have to say that the real epiphany was after a five mile run with a friend. I was out of breath, my feet had blisters and I could barely walk the next day. But when I was done, the endorphins had kicked in and my stress level dropped. In that moment, I knew that I was dedicated to renewing my fitness. 10K races led to half marathons, then marathons. Six months later, I finished my first triathlon. You may contact Gaylia Osterlund at Originally posted to ironmanlive.com on 04/18/2003 01:20pm by Gaylia Osterlund.